Version: 7.2014
Appendix 3 – Anesthetic Monitoring
Species
Rat and Mouse
Anesthesia Monitoring Procedures
Signs of adequate anesthesia: Rodents will be unresponsive to surgical or procedural stimulation.
They will not have withdrawal reflexes when their rear toes are pinched. Incisions will not be made
until loss of reflex responses has occurred. Anesthetized animals have regular respiration rates.
Their ears and feet remain pink, indicating that peripheral perfusion is adequate. A source of
supplemental heat (recirculating hot water pad, microwaveable gel pack, hot water bottle, or heating
pad) will be used to prevent hypothermia.
Criteria for administration of additional anesthetic: Respiration rate increases in response to
surgical or procedural stimulation, withdrawal reflexes return. Animals should not be re-dosed with
injectable anesthetics more than once. The LARC veterinary staff should be consulted if the
selected anesthesia does not appear to be effective with the species or strain.
Monitoring frequency during procedure: Visually monitor every 2-3 minutes during the procedure.
Because the surgeon and anesthesiologist are typically the same individual when working with
these species, it is not necessary to document monitoring during the procedure. However, the fact
that the animal was monitored should be described in a surgery log (e.g. surgery monitoring sheet,
notation in lab notebook, etc).
Anesthetic Monitoring records: Records are kept by the PI. Records must be available for review by
the IACUC during semi-annual inspections.
Hamster, Guinea
Pig, Dog, Pig,
Rabbit (All USDA
covered species)
Signs of adequate anesthesia: The animal is unconscious with good muscle relaxation and absent
jaw tone. There is no limb withdrawal reflex when the toes are pinched. The palpebral reflex is
absent. The respiration and heart rates are stable, and these do not increase in response to
surgical or procedural stimulation. The mucous membrane color is pink, and the capillary refill time
is 1-3 seconds. A source of supplemental heat (recirculating hot water pad, microwaveable gel
pack, hot water bottle, or heating pad) will be used to prevent hypothermia.
Criteria for administration of additional anesthetic: Respiration and/or heart rates increase in
response to surgical or procedural stimulation, jaw tone returns, withdrawal reflexes return.
Monitoring frequency during procedure: Visually monitor and record observations of heart rate,
respiration rate, and % gas anesthetic (if being used) on a permanent anesthesia record form
approximately every 10 – 15 minutes. Additional parameters that may be of use include body
temperature, blood pressure, and oxygenation (capillary refill time or pulse oximetry).
Anesthetic Monitoring records: This anesthetic record form must be turned into the LARC and be
kept with the animal’s medical record.
Amphibians &
Zebrafish
Signs of adequate anesthesia: Loss of righting ability, decreased abdominal respiratory movement
(frogs); lack of response to surgical or procedural stimulation.
Criteria for administration of additional anesthetic: Return of responses during procedural
stimulation; increased abdominal respiratory movement (frogs).
Monitoring frequency: Visually monitor every 2-3 minutes during the procedure. Because the
surgeon and anesthesiologist are typically the same individual when working with these species, it
is not necessary to document monitoring during the procedure. However, the fact that the animal
was monitored should be described in a surgery log (e.g. surgery monitoring sheet, notation in lab
notebook, etc).
Anesthetic Monitoring records: Records are kept by the PI. Records must be available for review by
the IACUC during semi-annual inspections.
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